Current Affairs 24th July 2017

Current Affairs 24th July 2017 - Important Points

• National Food Security Act statement given by Supreme Court - On 21st July 2017
• England beats India by 9 runs to lift ICC Women's World Cup 2017 on - 2rd July 2017
• Former ISRO chairman and man behind India's first satellite Aryabhatta died on - 24th July 2017
• All-women 'Pink' AC buses with CCTV cameras to be launched by - UP Govt.
• 1100 water vending machines at 450 stations to be installed by - IRCTC
• World’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford commissioned by - US
• SHe-box portal for sexual harassment complaints launched by - Union Government
• Senior Congress Leader and Freedom Fighter Shivajirao Giridhar Patil passed away on - 22nd July 2017
• Global Conference on Cyber Space 2017 to be hosted by - India
• HS Prannoy beats Parupalli Kashyap to lift 2017 US Open Grand Prix Gold badminton title on - 24th July 2017
• Gopal Baglay appointed as Joint Secretary in PMO on - 21st July 2017
• Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 introduced in Lok Sabha on - 24th July 2017

Current Affairs 24th July 2017 - Details

National Food Security Act statement given by Supreme Court - On 21st July 2017

The Supreme Court ruled that the National Food Security (NFS) Act, 2013 has not been implemented properly and has been postponed by various states on 21st July 2017. Taking it into account, the court has passed a slew of directions for effective implementation of provisions of the NFS Act, 2013.

A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and N V Ramana made this ruling who directed that the secretary of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs  should organize one or more meetings on or before 31st August 2017 to take stock of the implementation of the Act.

It also confirmed that a law enacted by Parliament must be given its due respect and must be implemented faithfully.
Highlights of the ruling

• The court asked the secretary of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to think over finding ways to effectively implement the provisions of the NFS Act, 2013 in 'letter and spirit'.
• It stated that every State and Union Territory should notify appropriate rules for a grievance redressal mechanism under the Act.
• It also said that states should designate proper and independent officials as the district grievance redressal officer within a fixed time frame.
• Adequate publicity should be given to the appointment and designation of district grievance redressal officers so that upset person can reach them without any fear.
• The states and Union territories should establish State Food Commissions under the Act and make them fully functional before the end of the year.
• Each state should ensure that adequate arrangements have to be made to provide infrastructure, staff and other facilities for the meaningful functioning of state food commissions.
• It also stated that states should establish a functioning vigilance committee in terms of section 29 of the NFS Act, 2013 for the purposes to carry out the duties and responsibilities mentioned in that section.

England beats India by 9 runs to lift ICC Women's World Cup 2017 on - 2rd July 2017

England defeated India by 9 runs to clinch the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup on 23rd July 2017.
This match was played at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. With this England’s has bagged its 4th title.
The 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup was the eleventh edition of the Women's Cricket World Cup, and the third to be hosted in England after the 1973 and 1993 tournaments.
England’s Tammy Beaumont bagged the Player of the Series title. She also made highest runs (410) in the tournament.
South Africa’s Dane van Niekerk took most wickets (15) during the total tournament.

More about ICC Women's World Cup

• It is the oldest and most prestigious international women's cricket tournament.
• It is currently organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
• It was administered by a separate body, the International Women's Cricket Council (IWCC) until 2005.
• The first World Cup was held in England in 1973, two years before the inauguration  of men's tournament.
• The eleven World Cups played till date have been held in five different countries, with India and England having hosted the event three times.
• Australia is the most successful team, having six titles in their account. England with four titles and New Zealand with one title are the only other teams to have won the event.

Former ISRO chairman and man behind India's first satellite Aryabhatta died on - 24th July 2017

Eminent space scientist and former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Prof Udupi Ramachandra Rao passed away on 24th July 2017 at his residence in Bengaluru. Reports suggested that Rao was bed-ridden for quite long time due to geriatric health issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he is saddened by demise of renowned scientist, Professor UR Rao and his remarkable contribution to India's space program is unforgettable.

 More about Professor Udupi Ramachandra Rao

• Born in Adamaru area of Karnataka’s Udupi district, Prof UR Rao played an instrumental role in building up Indian satellite programs right from the days of the nation's first satellite Aryabhatta.
• Prof Rao served as the ISRO chairman for 10 years from 1984-1994.
• He was an Alumni of Madras University, also he was serving as the Chancellor of the
• Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Institute for Space Science and Technology before his death.
• He was serving as the chairman of the governing council of the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad at present.

All-women 'Pink' AC buses with CCTV cameras to be launched by - UP Govt.

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government announced to launch 'Pink' air-conditioned buses installed with CCTV cameras exclusively for women on 24th July 2017.

The  entire staff will be women only. The 'Pink' buses will also have panic buttons installed for emergencies. A presentation in this regard was made before the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development on 21st July 2017 by the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) authorities.

Following this, the Union Ministry sanctioned funds for 50 buses from its 'Nirbhaya Fund' for the 'Pink' buses in UP. The ministry permitted the state government to buy the buses and install CCTV cameras in other 12500 buses run by the UPSRTC.

1100 water vending machines at 450 stations to be installed by - IRCTC

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is planning to install around 1100 water vending machines (WVMs) at 450 stations all across the country between 2017 and 2018.
The Rail Ministry made this announcement in a series of tweets. This initiative is a part of the corporation’s effort to ensure the availability of clean drinking water at low cost within rail premises only.

Important highlights

• This project of setting up WVMs was started in 2015 with an aim to provide potable water at nominal rates.
• There are 1106 water vending machines at 345 stations in the country at present.
• Water is dispensed with the Reverse Osmosis (RO) process in these machines.
• These machines can be operated 24 by 7 either manually or through the automatic mode.
• The water dispensed through these machines will going to be much cheaper than mineral bottled water.
• While a glass containing 300 ml water will be dispensed through these machines at a cost of Re 1 only, half a liter water will be costing Rs 3 while a liter will be available for Rs 5 , similarly two liters for Rs 8 and a can will be available for Rs 20.
• The initiative is expected to generate employment for more than 2000 people.

World’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford commissioned by - US

The United States Navy commissioned its most powerful warship USS Gerald R Ford into its fleet with the help of President Donald Trump on 22ND July 2017. The USD 13 billion USS Gerald R Ford carrier weighs 100000 tonnes and is able to sail apparently for 20 years without refilling fuel. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is fixed with modern technology having a capacity of more than ever before.

Key Highlights

• It is a huge one with a length of 1106-feet, almost the size of about three football fields.
• It features an electromagnetic launch system and advanced arresting gear for faster and more efficient landings and take-offs.
• In place of a traditional throttle, the vessel is outfitted with touch screen navigation display.
• There is an extra room which allows for an expanded flight deck that is easier for jets and drones to manoeuvre around.
• It features a better-positioned island structure, giving improved visibility to the ship captain.
• Once officially deployed in 2020, it will be housing 2600 sailors, which will save more than USD 4 billion over the ship's 50-year lifespan.
• The construction of the ship was started in 2009 and was expected to be completed by September 2015 with a cost of USD 10.5 billion.
• The Ford was built at Newport News Shipbuilding which is a giant Navy contractor in Virginia.

SHe-box portal for sexual harassment complaints launched by - Union Government

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development launched an online platform 'SHe-box' (Sexual Harassment Electronic Box) on 24th July 2017 to help the central government women employees to file complaints related to sexual harassment at their workplace. The Ministry also urged the officials to make the 'SHe-box' portal as interactive as possible.

Important Highlights

• The WCD ministry's website will host the e-platform and after that the complaints will be taken up with the respective ministries or departments.
• After the registration of a complaint, it will be forwarded to the concerned ministry or department of that woman employee.
• Moreover, SHe-box will be providing anonymity to complainants.
• In the beginning, only the central government women employees can file complaints through this portal, but later its ambit will include the private sectors as well.

Senior Congress Leader and Freedom Fighter Shivajirao Giridhar Patil passed away on - 22nd July 2017

Shivajirao Girdhar Patil, senior Congress leader, freedom fighter and former Maharashtra Minister passed away at a private hospital in Mumbai on 22nd July 2017. The father of late National Award winning actress Smita Patil, he started his social activism at an early age when he took part in the Indian independence movement. Vidyatai Patil was his spouse and a social worker, who passed away in March 2015 after 77 years of marriage.

More about Shivajirao Giridhar Patil

• He served as an active politician since a very young age and had been associated with several political parties including Samajwadi Party, CPI, Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party.
• He started his career as a radical and a freedom fighter and was also attracted to the Communist movement as a teenager.
• He became the president of CPI’s student wing, the All India Students Federation (AISF) in 1939 at the age of 15.
• Through AISF, Patil took part in various activities aimed to destabilize the British rule in India,
  some among which were violent, leading to his arrest and imprisonment for another 12 long years but he did not serve his sentence and broke out of jail.
• He also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha for one term between 1992 and 1998.
• He further served as a minister in the Maharashtra state cabinet led by late Congress chief ministers Vasantrao Naik, Vasantdada Patil and Shankarrao Chavan.
• He was awarded with the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award by the Indian Government for his immense contribution in public affairs in 2013.

Global Conference on Cyber Space 2017 to be hosted by - India

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice
announced in July 2017 that the 5th Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS), one of the world’s largest conferences on Cyber Space and related issues, will be hosted by India on 23rd and 24th November 2017 in New Delhi.
The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi will be inaugurating this conference.
It is for the first time that the Global Conference on Cyber Space is taking place outside Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations.
Important highlights

• The theme for the Global Conference on Cyber Space 2017 will be Cyber4All: An Inclusive, Sustainable, Developmental, Safe and Secure Cyberspace reflecting the changing architecture of India in the Digital space.
• To be held in India for the first time, the two-day conference will be seeing participation of around 2000 delegates from senior Government officials,academia industry leaders and civil society from over 100 countries.
• The Conference will be congregating and be deliberate on issues relating to promotion of cooperation in cyberspace, norms for responsible behavior in cyberspace and to enhance cyber capacity building.
• The goal of the GCCS 2017 is to promote an inclusive Cyber Space with focus on policies and frameworks for inclusive sustainability, development, security, safety and freedom, technology and partnerships to uphold digital democracy, maximizing collaboration for strengthening security and safety and advocating dialogue for digital diplomacy.

HS Prannoy beats Parupalli Kashyap to lift 2017 US Open Grand Prix Gold badminton title on - 24th July 2017

Rising shuttler H S Prannoy defeated Parupalli Kashyap to clinch the $120000 US Open Grand Prix Gold in Anaheim, California on 24th July 2017.
Prannoy defeated Kashyap 21-15 20-22 21-12 in the summit clash,lasted for an hour and five minutes.
Aya Ohori of Japan won the final by defeating Michelle Li of Canada in the women’s singles category of the tournament. It was the eleventh Grand Prix’s badminton tournament of the 2017 BWF Grand Prix and overall eight Grand Prix Gold title of 2017 BWF Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament.

More about HS Prannoy

• Born on 17th July 1992, Prannoy Haseena Sunil Kumar is an Indian badminton player.
• He is the trainer at the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad.
• He originally hails from Thiruvananthapuram and is the Indian number 2 (as of 2nd April 2015) in badminton.
• He came to prominence after winning the silver medal in Boys' singles in 2010 Summer Youth Olympics.
• He played for the Mumbai Rockets franchise in the 2017 season of the Premier Badminton League.

Gopal Baglay appointed as Joint Secretary in PMO on - 21st July 2017

Gopal Baglay, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, was appointed as the Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on 21st July 2017. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his appointment for a period of three years. He will be succeeding Vinay Mohan Kwatra, who is now appointed as Indian Ambassador to France.

More about Gopal Baglay

• He is a 1992 batch Indian Foreign Service officer.
• He has handled media at the embassy in Kathmandu as a counsellor between 2008 and 2010.
• Baglay has served as Deputy High Commissioner to Islamabad between 2011 and 2014.
• He was tasked to work in External Affairs Ministry dealing with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran later on.
• He also led the special division in the foreign ministry started by the NDA government to facilitate international outreach of Indian states.

Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 introduced in Lok Sabha on - 24th July 2017

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley introduced the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Lok Sabha on 24th July 2017. This amendment  is looking forward to make changes in the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and replace the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, which was promoted in May 2017.

Important Points

• It authorizes the RBI to direct the banking companies to resolve the stressed assets problem.
• It also allows the RBI to start insolvency resolution process on particular stressed assets.
• It empowers RBI to issue other directions for the resolution, appoint or approve authorities or committees to advise the banking companies for stressed asset resolution.
• The recovery proceedings will be carried out under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 which provides for a time-bound process to resolve defaults.